Who is your favorite character is ASOIAF

[the smiling weirwood]

Dany is one of those love or hate characters, apparently. I really enjoyed her chapters as a break from the otherwise continuous Westeros action. She gives us the only view, well until Arya hops on a ship, of the wider world. Originally I had a hard time reading her POVs because the things that happen to her early on are pretty....shocking to a modern reader's sensibility. Yes, yes, I know, things like that happen in Westeros too, but we aren't given a first hand glimpse of it until much later. I was creeped out by Drogo, but enjoyed the progress she was making to become her own person after her idiot brother got himself killed. This only got better after Drogo died. He and Ygritte are the only two characters I have cheered for dying. Then Dany just got bad-ass and her chapters have been so much fun since then.

[KiwiBird]

I find it amusing that she is suddenly so self-righteous, she must have westeros back, she must punish the Lannisters, baratheons, and Starks cause she is the lawful heir to the Iron Throne. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

At least with stannis you understand seeing the actual relationship between the houses, and the fact that he has always been like that.

Little Dany just wants westeros because she is greedy yet acts as though she is a divine liberator.

[the smiling weirwood]

I don't remember her ever actually stating she wants to take back her throne for any particular reason.
Assigning greed as a character's motivation without any backing textual evidence is not good analysis. It is my opinion that because of the way she was indoctrinated by Viserys at a young age she believes it is either her destiny, which would seem to be reinforced by the hatching of her dragons, or that it is in the best interest of Westeros to be united in order to stop the civil wars currently ravaging it.

In my opinion if any faction is to emerge on top, Dany would be the best for long lasting peace. If the Lannisters and Tyrells won everyone else would hate them forever, vice versa with any other faction. Daenerys would have more or less a clean slate.

[Hilarious Joke]

Plus she's got the dragons, which would be good peace-keepers. Unless Euron does something with his horn. That sounds rather rude, doesn't it?

[the smiling weirwood]

Yes, you can't very well argue with a dragon breathing on your neck.

[KiwiBird]

Please, she doesn't know anything or hardly anything about the current westeros, or the ongoing wars. She believes that as a targaryen, she has a right to the throne, she believes this because she is greedy, regardless of her upbringing, there are no other reasons, everything else that you can mention, like revenge, the fact that the smallfolk suppossedly cry for the targaryens of old, ... is nothing less then veiled greed.

Its true that with the current westeros she might be the best hope for peace, its also rue that if westeros wasnt like this she 's still try to conquer it. That is what she is doing right now, from her chapter pov we can deduct that at the moment she will have to face the full brunt of westerosi power when she comes (safe the few who will flock to her banners.) If westeros was at peace now, she'd do her best to bring war to it.

[the smiling weirwood]

Where is your indication of greed? Does she brood on the riches she will have? Does she constantly mention the wealth and power that will be hers? If you actually read her chapters you would realize she's a fanatic. She's doing what she's doing because she believes in it.

[woodsman]

Finally wondered to the end of the SOIAF so far. Thought I'd happen along and post about abit.

Davos. Just love his straight-forwardness and he reminds me of a good friend.

T' Red Viper. His casual arrogance and love for his dead sister form a short lived jewel in t' saga.

[KiwiBird]

Originally Posted by the smiling weirwood

Where is your indication of greed? Does she brood on the riches she will have? Does she constantly mention the wealth and power that will be hers? If you actually read her chapters you would realize she's a fanatic. She's doing what she's doing because she believes in it.

I dont buy that. She does not know anything, the little she knows is from her brother Viserys, whom she knows was not the greatest of men, moreover she never really seemed to care about power, ... she only wanted to have a peaceful life. If she really wanted to, she could have that, she could settle somewhere and be done with it.

However since she become the wife of the Khal she had a taste of power, a taste wich gew bigger with time. What drives her now (in my eyes) is greed, she wants to be queen, she wants to rule. Her being a tragaryen is just an excuse.

[MrWright]

Originally Posted by KiwiBird

I dont buy that. She does not know anything, the little she knows is from her brother Viserys, whom she knows was not the greatest of men, moreover she never really seemed to care about power, ... she only wanted to have a peaceful life. If she really wanted to, she could have that, she could settle somewhere and be done with it.

However since she become the wife of the Khal she had a taste of power, a taste wich gew bigger with time. What drives her now (in my eyes) is greed, she wants to be queen, she wants to rule. Her being a tragaryen is just an excuse.

I think Dany will be interesting once we get a dose of that good ol' Targaryen madness...

since she actually has the firepower (hehehe) to back up whatever delusion she dreams up.

[Hilarious Joke]

I wouldn't say she's greedy either. She thinks she's doing the right thing.

[devilsgrin]

I have to agree with Kiwi. Dany's motivation is pure greed. All the self justification that she uses to convince herself, and force those around her to agree with is simply the dressing of greed.
She may think she's doing the right thing, but this is a girl who has absolutely no idea of what Westeros is actually like, either its people or is political situation - save only that information which people who seek her favour tell her - and these are certainly not going to tell her anything that doesn't flatter her adolescent ego.
Dany's greed has nothing to do with gold. Greed is one of the most powerful of human motivators. Dany's personal greed is all about possession. she wants to be queen. she believes its her right, and will do what ever she can to make it hers. Possessive greed is her motivation and all her actions since Khal Drogo's death point in that direction - and have only strengthened as her influence has grown.
I foresee her personal mania developing into something akin to Viserys'. He believed being king was his right, his natural born due, he was stupid, Dany whilst ignorant doesn't appear stupid. She has the makings of a tyrant along the lines of Aerys. The dragons are the worst possible thing to happen Westeros. From Aegon til they died out, and again with Dany. Dragons are a disaster for Westeros.

[Hilarious Joke]

But, but, but, she freed the slaves in Astapor! And last we heard she was going back to make things right in the places she had conquered! That's got to count for something!

[the smiling weirwood]

Because she wants something she has to be greedy? I don't understand the position you two are coming from, but I have to say that "greed" is not the idea GRRM had when writing Dany's chapters.

[Hilarious Joke]

GRRM was probably thinking 'Redemption' and 'Growth'. And also: 'How the crap am I ever going to finish this series?!?!'